The earliest native bees are active in late March-early April once the first trees such s magnolia begin to bloom. The majority of other ground nesting bees begin to emerge in May or June.

If you have previously seen ground-nesting bees in your flowerbed, waiting until mid-May would minimize potential impacts to nests. Tilling the soil has the greatest potential to destroy nests. However, gentle work including cleaning or sowing plants is less likely to impact nests and could start earlier.